Improvement in hing-es



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GOTTLIEB FRIDERICEIIl FISCHER AND ALEXANDER XVHELAN, Ol." "ASIIINGTOR DIS- TRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS TO THEMSELVES ANI) JOSEPH KELLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 104,294, dated June 14, 1870.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

We, GOTTLIEB FRIDERICH FISCHER and Anexa DER WHELAN, both ofthe city and county of Washington,A in the District of Columbia, have jointly in vented an Improvement in Hinges, ofV which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is vto adaptthc pintle of a hinge to fall automatically, and thereby lock the leaves together and hold immovably the door, shutter, or gate to which it is applied, when the same is thrown to its open position.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a-hinge, the parts being represented as they appear when the door, shutter, or gate is open. y

Figure 2 is a similar, view, showing the hinge as closed.

Figures, 4, 5, and 6 are sectionalviews.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding `parts in the several figures.

1n order that others skilled in the ait to which our invention appertaius may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, we will proceed to describe it, in connection with the drawing.

A and B may represent the leaves, and C the pintIe or axis-pin of a hinge, which is constructed after any desired pattern,'but which has its sockets and pintle so formed that the pintle may slide or move longitudinally within the socket-s, forthe purpose of locking the leaves together when open, and releasing them from each other when they are 'to be closed.

lhe sockets or bores K may be drilled or cast in the cylindrical enlargements of the leaves A B inthe usual way.

The lupper socket is closed at top; the lower oueis open throughout.

The axis-pin C fits wit-hin the sockets snugly enough to properly maintain the relative positionsA of the leaves, and yet it is free to slide vertically therein when the leaves are opened out, so Vas to stand in the same plane. e

F is a spline orv rib, occupying a longitudinal position upon, and projecting rigidly from, the axis-pin-C.'

E and G are groovesv opening into the sockets K, and adaptedto accommodate the spline F.

D is'a ball or weight, formed or .screwed upon -thc lower end of the axis-pin C.

A([he'operation may be'set forth in few words.

-So long as the hinge is closed, or only partially opened, the axis-piu retains 4its highest position, and the spline F. is completely housed in the groove G of the upper socket. But, when the hinge is completely opened, the two grooves. G and E are brought into line with each otherforming one continuous groove; and, as the spline hasA then lost -its seat upon the shonlderH, the weightcd'axis-pin C descends, carry-V ing the spline F downwardA into the groove E of the lower socket. The bottom'` of the groove E forms a` new seat for the spline, and-the downward movement of the axis-pin is limited thereby. Thus, the spline ispcaused Ato occupy both grooves, and the hinge to lock itself in the open condition, in onder to hold open the door, gate, or shutter to which it may be applied. When the hinge (or the door, gate, or shutter) is to be closed, the axis-pin is raised by hand till the spline F is free of the groove E of the lower socket.

Itis obvious that modifications may be made in several particulars. Thus, a spring might 'fill the ot`.

ce of the weight AD in securing the descent of the the necessity of having springs or other devices be` tween the shutter and the wall to prevent rattling. The annular seat H, it will also be observed, is perfectlylevel, and of only sudicient bearing for the end of the spline to support it in opening and closing thev shutter, while the stop N, in the groove E, limits the descent of the piutle;` thus, the groove, so arranged, vperforms three functions: to lock theshutter in both directions, and to hold the pintleVV within the knuckles when so locked, all inclosed in the iixed knuckle ot` t-he hinge.

We are aware that hinges, ofthe .same general principle as ours, have been made and constructed .on the same` general plan, but, in these hinges, the groove E is replaced by a notchon the edge ofthe bearing H, which has an inclined surface, on which thc spline rcsts,fso that' the pint-le descends gradually i 'to its place, and is locked only in one direction.` By

means `of the groove E we are enabled to lock the hinge and pintle so that they cannot move in either direction.

Claim We claimas ourinvention y l 1. The arrangement of the' grooves E, having parallel sides, and G, on the interior of the knuckles,| of the tixe'd and movable leaves of the hinge, in combination witha spline, F, formed on the piutle C, the

parts being entirely inclosed within the knuckles,as

described.

i G.`F. FISCHER.

A. WHELAN,

Witnesses:

J ons F. C. Pnmnnnnr, GEORGE RITTER. 

